CAMILLE

I spent the next three weeks recovering. Caleb and Sebastian did more damage than they thought they did. Their plans was to kill me, it would have worked if Damian hadn't showed, I mean, I did die for like a hot minute, also scared the shit out of everyone especially Damian but I guess I needed to die because if what happened hadn't, I wouldn't have known that he truly cares about me. That probably low on reasons to stay dead but while I was practically dead, Damian warmed his way into my heart and head, figuratively and literally, it was not something I've experienced before. I could feel his heart and emotions when he spoke to me while I was fighting the grim reaper for freedom. He doesn't know I know and I plan to keep it that way because him knowing is just another reason to keep us apart.

"Come on, Camille, you have to wake up, please, you need to wake up. I need you. This world is pointless without you in it, I know I've been an asshole, a jerk, I'm all the names you call me and I would give anything to be called those names again. I was created to serve the Kingdom of El, and I've been doing that since I was old enough to do so, but you are only member of that house that makes me forget why I was created in the first place because you're only one that makes me forget that I'm not human, that I don't belong here. Camille, you are my one, I've not showed you but I love you, Camille Raven Stark. I don't know what love means but I was thinking we could explore it together. And to do that, you need to wake up. Please."

He finished his speech with a soft kiss on my lips. So very cliche but that did it. It got my heart beating again, blood started pumping, I guess the grim reaper took pity on him.

It was hard the first time because I had to heal and feel the pain all over again. Damian made the right choice by removing the bracelet the time he did because if he hadn't, I would have been dead. So in a way I owe him my life... again.

The Caleb Sinclair chapter has finished and somehow it has been upgraded in the book of Earth's greatest Evil. I asked if Damian was the one writing it but he denied. I'm curious about who the author of that large book is but for the first time in my life, I decided not to give in to my curiosity.

Alicia almost died and it was all because of me. It's like deja vu with when Jessica and I would explore together. People always get hurt, and I don't need that on my conscience. Although, Alicia is okay now, she was hurt bad, Damian said she was passed out when he saw her because of the enchanted rope Sebastian used to restrain her. I can't believe that idiot tried to bring back his father using my blood, it's a good thing it didn't work out because bringing someone back from dead always comes with a string attached, a very high fucking price that I'm not sure he would not be ready to pay.

Turned out Caleb was the bad, always has been. His twin sister was reckless and was an easy target but Caleb was the superior gemini, the asshole was a vampire. A fucking vampire! I never saw that shit coming, well, that and the fact that he was working with Sebastian Holmes. I guess I shouldn't even be surprised, at this juncture anything and everything is possible.

I've been staying at the mansion for the past weeks, Damian thought it would be good for me to recover here especially when Jessica and I aren't exactly on the same page, and I doubt Alicia will want to hang out again. I guess it was fun while it lasted.

Today is the last day of the House Contest, and even though I've been disqualified from participating, I still want to know which house won.

"Damian!" I shout his name when I get to the living room and notice his absence. He's the only one that can get me back to school.

We've spent every minute of the past days together because he doesn't want me to be alone and bored. We've been watching Pretty Women, I can't count how many times we've seen that movie, God! I don't think I've ever seen anyone as much as I've seen Julia Roberts. Even though he doesn't want me to be bored by playing the same movie over and over again, I realized later on that he actually loves the movie, he refuses to see any other movie. Anyway, I'm bored out of mine, being with him all the time is fucking suffocating, don't get me wrong I appreciate the company but he acts like my bodyguard instead of a companion or even love interest.

"Damian!" I shout again as I bend to pack the cards we were playing earlier.

"In the kitchen," he yells back. He's probably making dinner.

I arrange the cards and place them on the center table before heading to the kitchen. Stopping at the entrance, I take in his appearance, he's wearing loose pants and tight tee, the towel hanging on his shoulder gives him a different look, what I'm trying and failing to say is that he looks hot and I don't think I appreciate that enough. I've just been wrapped around in my own head that I haven't took in on his appearance lately.

"When you're done breaking down my looks in your mind, do you think you can grab me some pepper? It's inside the fridge." He points his hand in the direction of the fridge without turning.

I roll my eyes and make a beeline to the fridge. "You promised to stop invading my mind," I remind him as I open the fridge.

He nods. "I did but I have no control of that. That's the only thing about myself that I can't control, you," he answers.

Hiding my blush in the fridge, I grab the bell peppers and walk to the place he's slicing onions on the counter. "What are you cooking?" I ask curiously because he stuns me with a different recipe everyday. Honestly if he wasn't such an earth hater, he'd make a fine chef because this man can cook like there's no tomorrow and if we aren't watching Julia Roberts, our eyes are glued on food network, thanks to his love for cooking.

"Fried rice."

I hum. "You know you could totally make it as a chef here, all you need to do is to go to a culinary school or not, I'm not sure how it works." I have been telling him and he always had the same reply.

"That's a Earth thing, Camille." Everytime I bring it, he always says that.

What the hell does that means anything?

"Why do you think it happens?" I ask, changing the subject.

"Why do I think what happens?"

"My mind is shielded but you can still read it, you can still hear my thoughts. Why?" It's been bugging me for a while, we've been together for three weeks and I noticed something's changed between us even if none of us wants to admit or talk about it. Something has always been between us but it's different this time.

"Why were you looking for me?" He asks, ignoring my question.

I don't press further because that means he knows the answer, he just doesn't want to tell me.

"I need to get to The Vale as soon as possible," I say.

He stops chopping the onions and faces me, looking at me for the first time since I entered this kitchen. "Why? It isn't safe there."

I shrug. "I've been shot at, kidnapped, bitten, stabbed, almost killed and I'm still here, alive and well. Today, they're crowning of The Valian King and Queen, I need to be there like right now. I don't know when they'll start and I don't want to miss anything."

He studies me for a while before speaking. "I thought you didn't care about it."

I shrug. "I don't. I just want to witness it and see what all the fuss is about."

"Are you bored of me?" He asks and his facial expression changes. See, Damian doesn't do vulnerability but the look on his face, in his eyes is torturing.

"What?" I move closer and place my hand on his cheek, he grabs hold of that hand and leans into the touch. "No, I'm not bored. I just want to see the show. You could come with me if you want." I offer, knowing he'd declined.

"I'll portal you there but you'll have to entertain yourself. I'll come get you when it's done. Go change."

"Change?" I raise my eyebrows at him and look down at my outfit. It's an extra large sweat shirt with tights. "This is how I'm going."

He frowns and looks at me again. "You look like someone going through a bad break up and your hair's messy."

"Gee thank you. What would you know about that anyway? Come on portal boy, open the gate way," I playfully slap his cheek twice.

He takes a step back and raises his hands up in surrender. "Sure, whatever you say boss."

He opens the portal and I smile. "Thank you. I will be expecting you and make sure you cook my food, I won't be eating there." I let him know as I enter the portal. It's not as weird as it used be between us, things are better especially since each of us know how the other feels.

The portal closes after dropping me off in the library. Damian's smart, he knows students rarely come in to the library and today is important for everyone. I don't know what to do first, should I go see my friends or just hit the grand hall for the pageant? They are all probably getting ready for it. I'll just see them after.

As I make my move to walk, I hear a sniffle. Frowning at my ear for playing another trick on me. It's like there's something wrong with this library. I'm not even standing next to the restricted area–

The sniffle comes again. I brace myself and walk to the direction it's coming from. Pausing when I see the familiar figure sitting on the floor with her face buried in her hands.

"Are you okay?" I ask because she isn't the type of person to cry in public. Something is really going on with her.

She freezes, probably not expecting anyone to be here, least of all me. She raises her head and glares at me through her tear stained face. "What are you doing here?"

"Penelope–"

"Leave. You're probably here to make me feel worse, you haven't been in school for almost three weeks and the first time I see you is when I'm crying. Look, I know I've been a bitch to you but I'm not in the mood. You can tell everyone what you saw but that would change shit."

I stare at her, watching the tear roll down her cheek. "Everyone is entitled to have a bad day," I begin and sit on the floor in front of her. "You think I'm going to use your weak moment against you, that just shows how much you don't know about me."

More tears leaks and she wipes them using the sleeve of her blazer. "You don't know me either," she whispers back.

"What happened? Why are you hiding in the library when you should be in the dressing room, preparing for the pageant?"

"Roman isn't here," she answers and leans her head against the wall.

Roman. I haven't...I didn't think to tell them about where he is. Should I? Can I?

"I struggle a lot with everything but he was always there to tell me I can do it. He made me enter my first pageant because he knew I could it. He believed me. You see everyone in my life has given up on me, even my friends, they just tolerate me but lately it's been hell without him. He said he loved me but how could he leave like that. He didn't say anything, he just left. Was I not good enough for him? Did he realized–"

"You could sit here and ask yourself the questions you can never get the answers to or you go out there and kick ass." Her eyes widens at the interruption or is it the words. "You said everyone in your life has given up on you but that's so wrong–"

She interrupts me. "I'm sorry Cami but if you're about to say you haven't given up on me then you'll make me cry more."

I chuckle. "I'm not going to say myself. I was going to say your best friend, Alyssa, she cares so much about you, you might not believe me on this but she does and I do too. Listen, Roman wouldn't just leave you without an explanation, you know him, so don't give up on him."

I stand up and offer her my hand. "The clock is ticking, if you want to be this year's queen, then you better get your ass up."

She smiles through her sad face and takes my hand. I help up and she says. "We could have been friends if I knew you were more than a bitch that only knows how to punch and deliver chaotic lines."

I throw my head back and laugh. "Very funny. Who says we can't?"